2. A Definition of Distance Education Distance education is a formal educational process in which the majority of the learning occurs when student and instructor are not in the same location. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous and may employ audio, video, computer or other electronic technologies. This would include for-credit and non-credit activities for either individual courses/modules or for entire programs. When conceptualized on a continuum, distance education includes 100% face-to-face off-campus learning, web enhanced learning, blended learning, and 100% online learning.

3. Charge of the Taskforce Charge: The Distance Education Taskforce will make recommendations that will support and extend Illinois State University’s high academic standards through an integrated, planned, and programmatic approach to distance education consistent with Educating Illinois. The Taskforce will identify both internal and external issues that impact online education at Illinois State, and make recommendations regarding distance education that advance the core mission of the university. Specifically the Taskforce is charged with making recommendations to shape distance education at ISU from 2009-2014.

4. Goals of the Taskforce GOAL 1: CURRICULUM. The Taskforce will recommend strategies to integrate distance education into Illinois State’s overall academic plan. Such strategic planning should include faculty assessment of curricular programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to determine the competencies, courses, and programs that would be best learned through distance education.

5. Goals of the Taskforce GOAL 2: INSTRUCTION. The Taskforce will recommend the types and nature of initial and on-going faculty professional development necessary to prepare faculty for participation in distance education at Illinois State University.

6. Goals of the Taskforce GOAL 3: POLICY. The Taskforce will recommend the necessary institutional infrastructure at the university, college, and unit level to support the development, implementation, and maintenance of high quality online courses and/or programs at Illinois State University. Such recommendations should include: intellectual property student academic honesty curricular review program review admission to fully online programs financial aid registration academic calendar and others as necessary

7. Goals of the Taskforce GOAL 4: ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AND FUNDING. The Taskforce will recommend administrative structures and funding model(s) or necessary resources to support distance education curricular, programmatic, technological, professional development, and delivery needs.

8. Current State of Online Offerings at Illinois State University 5 years of data

17. Comments and Discussion